Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pueblo
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
82% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $22,101 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($197,700 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($940 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $22,101/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$22,101
$74,895 vs $52,794/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
82% lower
256.0 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$129k less
$197,700 vs $326,600
Pueblo
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 111,430 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 12 and Pueblo wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Madison to Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $197,700 median home), income ($74,895 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Pueblo, CO are about 861 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.